Church of St Mary the Virgin, King's Pyon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary the Virgin
King's Pyon Church
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Location	King's Pyon, Herefordshire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Website	[1]
History
Dedication	St Mary
Architecture
Years built	c. 1100
Administration
Parish	Parish of King's Pyon
Diocese	Hereford
Province	Canterbury

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a very old church located in King's Pyon, Herefordshire, England. It was built a long, long time ago, starting in the 12th century. That's over 800 years ago! This church is so special that it's a Grade I listed building, meaning it's one of the most important historical buildings in the country.

The church has a cross shape, which is called "cruciform." It was built in different stages during the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries. Later, in 1872, some parts were added and fixed up. The church is made from strong sandstone rocks and has roofs of slate and tile. The oldest part you can still see is a section of the north wall. This part dates back to the early Norman period, possibly even the late 1000s!

The church sits on a hill above a huge redwood tree. This tree was planted in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. St Mary's Church is part of a group of churches in the area. Even though King's Pyon used to have its own village hall, it was taken down almost 60 years ago. Now, the church is a central place for community activities and events.

Discovering St Mary's Church

This church has a rich history, with parts dating back to the 12th century. It's a fascinating place to explore.

Inside the Church

The inside of the church's roof, especially in the main area (nave) and the south side-section (transept), dates back to the 14th century. It has a beautiful two-level design with dark, clover-shaped wooden braces. These stand out against the bright white ceiling.

The Tower and Bells

The square tower of the church was built in the 14th century. Inside, there are five bells that are over 400 years old, from the early 1600s! People who love ringing bells, called campanologists, often ring them. The tower also has a clock with three faces, which chimes every hour. This clock was put in place in 1872.

Ancient Tombs and Windows

Inside the church, you can find a fancy tomb area, likely from the 13th or 14th century. It has a stone coffin with a statue of a man in armor. A lion statue rests at his feet. Sadly, parts of the statue were damaged during the siege of Hereford in 1645.

You'll also see two special memorial windows in the south transept. These were put there about 100 years ago by the King family. At the east end of the church, there's a carved Victorian screen behind the altar. Another screen is at the west end, behind the old Victorian font. These were put there to remember people from the church's past. Many plaques and windows tell the stories of important families and people who helped the church over the years.

Community Hub

The north side-section (transept) of the church was added during the Victorian era. It has recently been updated to be a community area. The church's original font, from the Norman period, is displayed under a memorial window.

Recent Renovations

The church has had a lot of work done to keep it in good shape. A big restoration project finished at the end of 2017. This project fixed many things that needed attention. It was mainly paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The work included fixing the outside walls of the chancel and the north and south transepts. They also fixed the organ roof and the gutters. The window in the south transept was also restored. This was the latest of several projects over the last 10 years or so, which also included fixing the tower and the main roof of the church.

Images for kids

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  Effigy of a man in armour found in the south transept

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  Victorian font found at the west end

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  Hand copy of an image found in the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England